Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-12-03
AD BAKHAUsef &c COM P'X
MANUFACTURERS AND PROPRIETORS,
NO. % FAST MAIN ST. SPRINGFIELD OHIO.
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
The Country Which Gives Rich Promise Of
Becoming Formidable Rival
of California.
Colonel }. =. Bogi~ Writes AN Interesting
Letter Concerning This Land Which
Flow. with MIX and Honey-Vivid
Description of the Country.

Colonel J 6. Boyle, of this city who re-
Gently made an extended trip through
Washington territory, has written for the
REruBIIc the following extremely inter
e,ting description of that comparatively
little known country:
PUGET SOUND.
In my letter from Tacoma some time
since promised that in future article
would say something of Wa hi igton terri
tory and Puget Sound. |, however. neg
Iected To write the promised letter, bat since
my return home there have been 81 many
anxious inquiries concerning that country
that | conclude that brief article. stating
facts and giving figures, together with i'm
pressions formed, may be interesting io
many.
No doubt most of our school children
know that Washington territory is situated
in the extreme northwest Of the United
States, and is bounded by British Columbia
on the north. and that il is nearly twice as
large as the state of OHIO and about
nine times tie area of Massachusetts,
But there are many of our Older people in
the eastern states who in reality know but
little of its vast resources, natural advan-
tages, and climatic Importance, as we'll a.
its commercial greatness. The impression
seems To prevail that it is situated some
where between Asia and the north po,e
and partakes of the climatic character of
the frigid zone. /; ought, undoubtedly. IN
delight the anglomaniacs who are at pres
ent ION top in matters of taste, to find
that a portion of our country even adopts
the peculiarities of English climate. for il
is true that the climate OF west Washing
ton territory and that OF tie south
If England are quite similar.
This is due partially 10 the
warm ocean currents which flow across
from Japan TO this continent, filling the
sound with temperate waters, and partially
20 the winds, which in summer bring a cool
breath from the snow-capped mountain
ranges at the north. and in the winter. a
mild southerly air. tempered by the gulf
stream" of the Pacific; for strangely enough.
Ehe prevailing winds OF summer are north
erly. ard those OF winter. SOuthrriy. The
territory Is divided by the Cascade mount
aims. which extend from the Columbia
river northward. entirely across the terrific
ry. That portion east OF this mountain
range, Is designated as eastern Washington,
iilu tIfat ptit ~ ing bh ti' "t~bViu sttpt,
rs west Washington, or the Puget sound
region.
The eastern portion is principally a
prairie country. and is especially adopted
to stock raising and wheat growing. 1t is
estimated to contain about ten million acres
Of the best wheat land in America. frrm
which. according 10 the last report of Gov
Squires to the department of the interior.
m fIiAp hpS b.-t. of SYh hHst
shipped during the year ending June 80.
1886. most OF which was shipped 70 Port
land. Oregon. and thence 10 San Fran
cisco OF direct TO foreign ports. but with
the completion of the Cascade division ei
the L. T. railroad 10 Tacoma, July %, tSSs,
an outlet was opened up and hereafter
the great bulk Of the grain from
this vast and rapidly improving
wheat region will find its way 10 the mark
cts of the world through the Puget sound.
since it can be thus shipped AT a saving OF
ABOUT 81 per ton over that of any other
route.
The Northern Pacific Railroad company
has just completed immense wheat ware
houses at the Tacoma wharfs. capable Of
holding about 500. 900 bushels of wheat at
once. The grain is delivered from the cars
t0 the warehouse on one side, while from
the other side the largest ships in the world
can load tn their full capacity. regardless of
he condition of the tide. While there. |
saw vessels loading with wheat for England.
to go via Cape Horn.
WEST WASHINGTON.
That portion of the territory west of the
Cascade mountains is a heavily timbered
country. and is well watered by numerous
small rivers. whose valleys are equal III
richness and fertility to any in the world.
The uplands are also very productive when
cleared of timber. Grass. vegetables and
fruits of all kinds-eXcept the tropical
fruits-grow as well as in any other portion
of the world. Hop growing is an import
ant industry In West Washington. The
rich lands OF the PuyaliUp. Chehalis and
White river valleys grow the finest hops
that are grown in the United States. yield
ing from 1900 TO 1000 pounds per acre.
About 1000 bales were shipped from
Tacoma in 1886. The hop-picking
is largely done by the Indians
During the picking seaSOn-which
begins in September and lasts until October
Thousands of them may be seen workingin in
the hop fields, sometimes as many as two
hundred in one field. Many of these In
dams come iTohi biitlsh 'oiuihoia anu
even from Alaska. to pick hops. sometimes
whole village in body. When the sea
son is over they return with all their world
ly effects packed In their canoes. not usual
lv starting on the homeward voyage unit
hey have exhausted their entire cash cap
tai IN the purchase OF blankets and such
other articles as happen to strike their
fancy. l noticed that trunk seemed to
n. ,t.r.haSa xsnaataliu rxifh tho
women. When a squaw has secured
a So trunk she appears {" have all the
earthly goods she cares to own. These In
dians are civilized and quite Industrious.
TIMBER
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